Train Ticket Inspector Jailed For £90K Eighteen-Year Disability Benefit Swindle

A London Underground ticket inspector has been jailed for forty weeks for a £90,000-plus eighteen-year benefit scam, during which he claimed he could hardly walk and was paid at the highest-rate in mobility an care allowances.

Dean Shulton, 48, of Ryecroft Road, Streatham was employed throughout the claim and was expected to travel all over the network, hop on and off tube trains, and even descend to the tracks in an emergency.

"This is a really serious class of offence because of the extended period of time," said Inner London Crown Court Judge Michael Wood QC. "This has been going on year after year, claiming benefit on the basis of not being able to work while holding down a job."

Shulton pleaded guilty to obtaining property by deception from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) between June 8, 1995 and January 29, last year, namely Disability Living Allowance (DLA) totalling £93,485.35p.

Prosecutor Miss Tamsin Ryder told the court Shulton applied for DLA on August 16, 1994, stating he could not walk 100 yards without becoming "tired and breathless" and was prone to chest infections and suffered depression.

"He said he constantly felt tired, was unable to walk, was very weak when trying to prepare food, he became tired when attempting to get dressed and said his legs felt like they weighed ten tons."

A doctor approved the application and Shulton was awarded the highest rate of mobility benefit and the middle rate of care benefit, which he successfully appealed and began receiving the maximum for both.

"This award meant he was virtually unable to walk," explained Miss Ryder. "He said he could not get out of bed, needed help to go to the toilet and needed massages to get the feeling in his legs."

Shulton also said he needed a paid carer to help turn him in his bed at night.

The DWP received intelligence that since the early 1990's Shulton was a revenue control inspector.

"He had powers of prosecution on the trains and held a 'Safety Critical Licence' which assessed his mobility for the job."

London Underground were concerned about the number of sick days Shulton was taking and a doctor examined him on June 8, 1995. "He was fit for duty and the doctor found him to be extremely well."

When eventually caught he was questioned by investigators. "His discussed his illnesses and disabilities, but admitted he should not have been working and his condition had improved."

Shulton has sold his house, moved in with his parents, and promised to pay compensation in full within seven days.

He remains an employee of Transport for London, but is currently the subject of disciplinary proceedings, which he expects will end his career.

His lawyer Miss Joanne Cecil said: "He spent considerable time on paperwork and administration and essentially had a desk-bound office job.

"He did not effectively travel and check tickets and was based at Oval, where he checked tickets at the barrier.

"This claim was not fraudulent from the outset and even though his condition improved he could not be considered to be a well person."

Judge Wood added: "The dishonesty is to continue to get these benefits that were plainly for someone unable to work and he was in work."

However, he told Shulton: "I accept you did suffer from significant disability and your symptoms did fluctuate. You behaved with tremendous realism once you were caught."